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User: nycroft

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  1. Terra Prime, Anyone? on Laser Treatment For Earth-Bound Asteroids · · Score: 1

    Once again, Star Trek has predicted the future in amazing detail.

  2. Old news...I work at a bank on IBM's Ban on Dropbox and iCloud Highlights Cloud Security Issues · · Score: 1

    I work at a small bank (assets around $1B). We have been banned from using cloud-based services like iCloud since they were .Mac. This is no surprise. However, I wonder how businesses like mine will cope with the cloud as it becomes more popular. I already wish we could use Google Docs and DropBox...but alas, we cannot.

  3. Change of Subject? on Is Your IM Buddy Really a Computer? · · Score: 1

    I found that a good way to figure it out is how often the chatbot seems to change the subject by avoiding the questions you ask. If you answer a question with a question, a human would not normally change the subject. Just my observation. Both of the top two in the article didn't fool me on that point.

  4. Sound familiar? on DNA Strands Modified Into Tiny Fiber-Optic Cables · · Score: 1

    âoeThe system goes online August 4th, 1997. Human decisions are removed from strategic defense. Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. In a panic, they try to pull the plug.â

  5. Viral marketing is so obvious nowadays on Why Does Everyone Hate Microsoft? · · Score: 1
    The fact that you are doing a project (read "marketing research") on Microsoft is a good enough reason to dislike them. Why not focus your viral marketing energies on a company that affects society by their service to the community and not their bloated, shoddy corporate practices that are totally out of control? You guys up in Redmond might learn something new.

    That's my $0.02.

  6. Too much spice on 'Tower of Babel' Translator Under Development · · Score: 1

    The Bene Gesserit witch must leave!

  7. We're so happy on Google Releasing an Office Suite · · Score: 1

    Google Apps for Your Domain is just what I need to get my domain GAYD up for the holidays. In fact, I can put a message down at the bottom saying "This site was GAYD by the use of Google Apps for Your Domain". Wow, it's just so GAYD!

  8. The cow says... on Working Model of MIT $100 Laptop a Hit · · Score: 1

    ..."moo!" The Windows user says, "Linux? The Mac user says, "I wish it cost more so I could feel special!" The Linux user says, "C'mon, guys...it's got Linux!" And the kids say, "Hooray! Myspace.com...here I come! Woo hoo!"

  9. Speak and Spell is Back! on First Photos of MIT $100 Laptop · · Score: 1

    Wow, Fisher Price has to be pissed about this one. I'm still gonna buy it though.

  10. I can see it now... on 'Lego' Approach Thwarts Anthrax Toxin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Shares of Lego, Inc. go through the roof as hudreds of thousands of biochemists rush to buy Lego products. The question is, which theme will help their research more? The pirate sets or the Star Wars sets? My money's on Star Wars.

  11. Phillip K Dick got it right on E-Paper On Cereal Boxes · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It seems that Phillip K. Dick's vision of a future where no one can escape annoying advertising is coming true. If we're not careful, Orwell's prediction of government controlled speech will come true. Oh wait...it already has.

  12. Sure-fire Anti-Piracy Method on Movie Studios Unveil New Anti-Piracy Lab · · Score: 1

    Lower the cost of the theatre tickets and lower the cost of DVDs!

  13. Re:Just relax on Reading FilmX Picture Files? · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Well if you don't have anything good to say to the original poster, don't say it at all is what I'm getting at. You just proved my point, you snob.

  14. Just relax on Reading FilmX Picture Files? · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Dude, seriously, all these guys that are giving you crap are just a bunch of Mac snobs. They've been working with their computers so long that they don't remember what it was like to feel helpless when encountered by a strange file. Sure you could've done a little research, but that's not your fault.

    What is the Apple section for anyway? Is it just for a bunch of flamers to sit around bitching? Or are we here to actually help the Mac user community grow a little?

    Try Graphic Converter, it should be in your Applications Folder or Utilities folder. If that fails, OsiriX has an open source, OSX compatible viewer.

    Sorry about my compatriots here, we'll try and be more tolerant next time.

  15. TechTV has a great article on this... on Breathe New Life Into Your Dead iPod · · Score: 1

    This was covered several times on TechTV. But most recently, on The Screensavers on January 13th. Here is the article by Macworld contributing editor Christoper Breen. It's very informative. It seems he destroyed a couple of iPods himself in the process. The article has useful links for iPod battery kits as well.

    I highly recommend his book, Secrets of the iPod, for any other tricks and tips to help you make your iPod into much more than a music player.

  16. Everything's okay... on PC Mag - Mac OS X Insecure · · Score: 1
    Well, having only one or two holes compared to the weekly Windows updates is still a fantastic track record if you ask me. It's interesting that when you have something that is better than somebody else, they jump all over you at the first sign of a flaw. Now, if Windows is so damn great, why get so defensive?

    From the article:

    OS X 10.x may not be as widely used as Windows (let's face it, it isn't) but some of its devotees seem far more fanatical than Windows users.

    Tha's because we're extremely pleased with our OS of choice. One or two security flaws (which are easily avoidable, by the way) are nothing compared to the experience of using such a beautiful and comforting OS. A Mac user couldn't be in a better position at this time. Think about it: we have a company that produces both the OS and the hardware, giving us excellent performance and support; we are an extremely small (but not a niche) market, and that's great, too - would we really want to be part of a community of users that depends on an over-inflated company that is blowing it weekly and barely has the time to work on a new OS?; and at least when a vulnerability is discovered, our software company releases a timely update (unlike Billy Boy who's decided to give his users a Christmas gift and not release any updates in December).

    It's good to be number two (or three, I'm not sure where Linux falls into the market).

  17. Re:A quick and dirty review on New Battlestar Galactica - Worth a Series? · · Score: 1
    - The uniforms suck. The flight suits are okay, but the wrestling outfits are terrible!

    Those were just tanktops worn backwards. C'mon man, if they were wrestling with each other all the time, there would be way more annoying sex.

    - Some Epic music like the original had would have been great.

    Remember? They did have it in during the flyby at the decomissioning ceremony. Anyway, what I want to know is how did they suddenly find like 20 vintage Vipers? At the start, the chief was showing Adama that one they restored, and Adama looked at it like he hadn't seen one in a long time. YET, there were about 20 in the on-board museum? Okay. Gotcha!

    But really, I liked it a lot. Even compared to the old one. Ithink they should have at least kept Colonel Tigh and Boomer black (were did all the black people go? I want some chocolate love here, people!)

  18. Never a Problem on Using Macs In The Work Place · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I was hired as a the in-house graphic artist for a Fortune 500 company. As a result, I was to be the only Mac user out of the 45,000 employees this organization had world-wide. My job was to administer the logo database and create newsletters and ads for the company on a regular basis. This involved my needing to be set up with e-mail and digital proofing via PDF (since most of my superiors were scattered around the world).

    When my computer (a dual 1.25 Ghz MDD with 1 GB of RAM) arrived, the whole of the IT department was there, at my desk, to greet it. Since none of them really knew how to get it to connect to their network (Windows NT), they let me have the first go. They watched, in amazement as the OS X setup took me through the network settings when I created my account. All I needed from them was a IP address number for my computer, and a few other numbers for the router, subnet mask, etc.

    Needless to say, I showed them, without anymore settings involved how I could "see" the entire network and connect to anyone's computer via SMB and the proper password.

    It was seamless No trouble at all. The only hurdle I faced was geting my Microsoft Entourage to work with the Exchange server. Now, some of those very same IT guys have bought some Macs of their own for home use. They were pretty blown away when I showed them the Terminal app.

  19. Re:Tukwila cash-strapped? on School May Turn Down $43K In Free Macs · · Score: 1

    Schools are always at the bottom of the barrel for spending, though. Even the elementary/JHS schools in one of the wealthiest areas of California (the Santa Barbara/Montecito area) are suffering closures and cancelling music/art programs :( I doubt they've had an infusion of new equipment in a while. They certainly wouldn't turn down $43,000 of free anything. You can take that to the bank.

  20. Re:If they don't want 'em... on School May Turn Down $43K In Free Macs · · Score: 4, Interesting

    but they will cost more in maintenance and training

    I disagree. Any IT person worth his salt can learn to support Macs on a network in about a day, probably just by himself, too. OS X makes networking really easy. There really is no need to map special folders on servers anymore. And besides, Macs are the king of cross-platform integration. Files, sharing, etc. are already taken care of.

    As for hardware support, the guts are pretty much the same as PCs. In fact, things like driver issues are not even a consideration. Therefore, switching out drives and PCI cards, etc. is super easy! Actually, the end user or lab advisor probably doesn't need even need an IT person for hardware support. They can do it themselves.

    It really boils down to Macs being alien to most people. They are afraid that if they use a Mac or if somebody gives them a Mac, their lives will be severely disrupted. But it won't. And again, the Macs are free, they don't have to keep them, they can trade with another school district, or sell them on eBay or something. If anything, they will save or even make money off of those Macs.

  21. If they don't want 'em... on School May Turn Down $43K In Free Macs · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'll take 'em! What's wrong with that school? They're free! for cryin' out loud.

  22. Re:Robotic RealDoll with AI on Ideas for High School Computer Club Activities? · · Score: 1

    She needs to speak?

  23. Re:Project idea on Ideas for High School Computer Club Activities? · · Score: 1

    how exactly would the school pay for switching from PC to Mac or vice versa?

    An interesting question. Maybe that would be a good project as well: Exploring how to manage money in the real world of computing.

    I have a two word answer: Bake sale.

  24. Re:Two Camps on Ideas for High School Computer Club Activities? · · Score: 0

    so it was all kind of "unplanned".

    So is fixing all those broken laptops after they've been used as beer can coasters, date-rape defensive wepons, jizz-sheilds, cocaine cutting surfaces, skateboard substitutes, etc. *sigh* I know what you mean.

    Semper Ubi Sub Ubi "Always where under where." Dude, go commando whenever you can. Less Latin to worry about.

  25. Project idea on Ideas for High School Computer Club Activities? · · Score: 3, Funny

    If you all use PCs, then make the switch to Macs. If you use Macs, then make the switch to PCs. Or switch to something else like Linux, BeOS, or OS/2 and record the sociological effects on the members of your club. Are they happy? Sad? Are any of the members expressing rage while trying to get USB to work in a certain Linux distro across different logic board types?

    Could make an interesting doctoral thesis for that rare Anthropology/Computer Science double-major out there.